Don’t Let Experience Retire: Building a Legacy with CityGov

Municipal government and management sectors have been experiencing a significant shift in recent years, a shift that has been quietly approaching, unnoticed by many, until now. The "retirement cliff" is here. A large segment of our municipal workforce, individuals with decades of institutional knowledge, historical context, and hands-on experience, is nearing retirement age. This workforce, carrying invaluable knowledge and experience, cannot be replaced overnight. In many organizations, the plans to pass on this knowledge are hasty, informal, or absent altogether.

As a former member of the military, I can attest to the weighty importance of succession planning. In the military, succession planning is not merely encouraged, but it is incorporated into the culture. Every leader, regardless of their rank, has an ingrained obligation to "train their replacement." The focus is not on preparing for your departure, but on ensuring that the mission continues without missing a beat. This mentality, this focus on continuity and seamless transition, needs to be integrated into the municipal leadership fabric.

The future of effective governance hinges not only on recruiting new talents but also requires a proactive approach towards mentoring, documenting, and paving a clear path for the next generation to succeed. Without deliberate action, we are not merely risking the loss of personnel but also the potential loss of best practices, lessons learned from past c